Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman was reportedly at a loss for words when the Fighting Irish missed out on the 2025 College Football Playoff. ESPN's Jen Lada was with the team on Sunday, December 7 for the CFP Selection Show, describing the mood as "very quiet" once it was clear that Notre Dame had been left out. "[Freeman] said that usually he has answers or reasons for why these things happen," Lada, 44, said. "He has none & that was unusual. He said he has no answers. It doesn't make sense. It doesn't add up why ND is not in this playoff field.